Liverpool vs Everton: Line-ups
Liverpool
Everton
Merseyside Will Be Red
#1
The Reds have won just two of their eight top-flight outings so far this calendar year and have lost five of those – incredibly already suffering as many league defeats in 2021 as they did from 72 matches in both 2019 and 2020 combined.
#2
There is every reason for Klopp to believe that the return to winning ways domestically will come this weekend, with Everton enduring their worst ever run against their local rivals. It is now over a decade since the Toffees claimed Merseyside derby bragging rights and they still have not won at Anfield this century, last doing so in 1999.
#3
The encouraging news ahead of this game is that those defeats both came at home, where Everton have now picked up only one point from five games since the turn of the year. It is a completely different story away from home, where Everton have amassed 17 points from a possible 21 in a seven-game run that stretches back to the beginning of November.
#4
Liverpool will know that another defeat on Saturday would be a huge blow to their top-four hopes, whereas Everton have the tantalising prospect of moving level with their hosts having played a game fewer, as well as keeping their own Champions League ambitions alive.
#5
Everton’s away form is far better than their recent record in general, but it is impossible to ignore their struggles in the derby, and in particular at Anfield, which stretch back more than 20 years. This is also the fixture with the most red cards in Premier League history so do not be surprised if it ends with fewer than 22 players on the pitch, but when the final whistle blows, expect Liverpool to hold the bragging rights once again.
